Life has a way of throwing us curveballs when we least expect it – often with little-to-no warning. 

One moment you’re enjoying a good workout with your friends or helping your parents move out of their house, and the next moment you’re waking up with an intense, sharp, and aching pain in your lower back. 

It hurts to say, but this is a harsh reality most of us will experience at some point in our lifetime. 

And a reality some of you in the Park Slope, Brooklyn community might be experiencing right now. 

For many, lower back pain is more than just a physical ailment – it’s a barrier that not only affects your day-to-day life, but also the lives of those who depend on you – including family, friends, and coworkers. 

If this is something you’re going through, then don’t worry – we’re here to help. 

At PhysioRX, it breaks our heart that so many people are living with lower back pain. Whether it be a chronic condition or a temporary injury, our team of physical therapists can help you find long-term relief.

Behind the Pain: What’s Causing Your Lower Back Pain? 

The human spine consists of 33 vertebrae, which are grouped into five distinct regions – the cervical (neck), thoracic (upper back), lumbar (lower back), sacral (sacrum), and coccygeal (tailbone) regions. 

The lumbar region consists of five vertebrae (L1 to L5) that are located in the lower back. 

Any injury or condition that affects these vertebrae can – and often will – cause lower back pain. 

And as most of us will figure out sooner or later in life, there are a lot of ways you can trigger pain in the lumbar region – some of which are preventable and some of which are nothing more than freak accidents.

Here are some of the most common causes: 

• A torn, sprained, pulled, or strained muscle or ligament
• Bad posture when sitting, standing, or lying down
• Improperly lifting, twisting, and pulling large or heavy objects
• Carrying a heavy bag (or purse) for long periods of time or often
• Over-doing yourself during a workout
• A weakened, bulging, ruptured, or herniated disk
• Conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, and fibromyalgia
• Trauma, compression fracture, or a deformity

With that said, lower back pain isn’t a condition – it’s a symptom. And the only way to treat a symptom is by identifying the underlying cause – and then building a personalized treatment plan centered around it. 

Home Remedies: Things You Can Start Doing Right Now

Whether you plan on working with a physical therapist or not, treating lower back pain starts and ends at home – because without the right behavioral and habitual changes, your back pain will never get better. 

And even if it did get better, the pain would likely return at a later date if those changes aren’t made. 

That’s obviously what you’re trying to avoid. The first goal is relieving the pain you’re feeling right now, but the next step in the process is doing whatever it takes to prevent your lower back pain from coming back. 

Here are some of the best things you can start doing today to relieve the pain:

• Over-the-Counter Medication – medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help reduce pain and inflammation.
• Cold and Heat Therapy – we recommend applying cold packs during the first 48 hours of pain, and heating pads after the first 48 hours of pain. 
• Rest, Relax, & Take It Easy – short periods of rest can help relieve acute back pain, but avoid prolonged bed rest as it can weaken muscles.
• Maintain Good Posture – good posture while sitting, standing, lying down, and lifting will help support a more neutral spine position.
• Stretch & Exercise Daily – stretching can help alleviate tight muscles, while exercising can help maintain mobility and strengthen muscles. 

If your lower back pain persists or worsens despite trying those at-home remedies, don’t hesitate to reach out to your primary care doctor or local Park Slope physical therapist for further evaluation and treatment.

Back on Track: Overcoming Lower Back Pain with Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is usually the best form of treatment for lower back pain – especially if you want to avoid surgery and other, more invasive treatments that often result in downtime, complications, and discomfort. 

With physical therapy, you tackle the issue at its core – and in a more natural manner. 

The primary goals with physical therapy are to decrease painful symptoms, improve lower back function, increase flexibility and range of motion in the spine, and prevent back pain from returning in the future. 

Stretching, exercises, manual therapy, nutritional advice, posture correction, lifestyle changes…

Since everyone has a different experience with lower back pain – from the symptoms to the causes, severity, and recovery – your physical therapist will create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs. 

And even when surgery is required, physical therapy can help get you back on track. 

In fact, physical therapy plays a vital role both before and after surgery – not only helping patients prepare the body for the physical demands of surgery, but also helping them manage pain return to daily activities.

Brooklyn’s Backbone: What Makes PhysioRX Different?

Have you started experiencing back pain recently? Are at-home remedies and lifestyle changes not making a big enough difference in your life? Are you ready to finally rid yourself of your pesky back pain?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then you’ve come to the right place. 

Welcome to PhysioRX – the backbone of physical therapy in Park Slope, Brooklyn. 

With comprehensive assessments and customized treatment plans, PhysioRX ensures effective pain relief and long-term health benefits – helping you regain mobility, strength, flexibility, and overall well-being. 

‍Don’t hesitate to contact us today at (646) 860-0670 or book your free consultation online to learn more.